NOVATO, CA (BRAIN)—Marin Bikes is partnering with UK brand Mezzo Bikes to distribute three models of folding bikes in the United States.

After evaluating several folding bikes and exploring in-house development, Kelly Burr, vice president of product development, decided that Mezzo was the right choice. “Building an efficient folder that handles like a real bicycle is extremely difficult,” Burr said. “We’ve chosen the Mezzo because it represents the epitome of the qualities that we wanted in a folding bike. The ride quality is in a category above all competing models available on the market.”

Available in three styles with an introductory retail price of $929, each model provides dealers with a full margin and the ability to sell the Mezzo on its quality without Internet pricing competition.

“The Mezzo is a fresh product that doesn’t come with a stodgy stigma,” said Marin brand manager Aaron Tieman. “It provides a practical alternative for the commuting professional and a profitable product for U.S. bicycle dealers.”

For more on this story be sure to read to the August 1 issue of Bicycle Retailer and Industry News.

This bike is being advertised alot lately in Japan. The reviews I have read in Folding Bikes and Mini Velo magazine gives this bike a low score, especially in the speed department.

Alot of older reviews are based on older mezzos mark 1 with cheaper tires.

If you are quoting the online AtoB compairative review it is very biased and very out of date.

The folding soceity, an organisation that tend to own /favour bromptons?, give it a very fair review that even Mezzo (ATB) were happy with.

Go test ride it for a fair impression.

It is not slow compaired to the competion of dahon or Brompton 16" bikes, however it is a little undergeared, but that can be addressed. I have tried many of the popular 16" folding bikes and settled on the mezzo as the fastest,and best folding combination for my commuting.

I wasn't referring to AtoB magazine. I found the review in a mag published last month on the new version and it was reviewed by 3 different people. They all gave it back marks. Mostly about how slow of a bike it is for $1000. the fold was given okay ratings putting it between a Brompton and a birdie.

Ok, but there are also many favourable reviews on the internet of the Mezzo by inderpendant reviewers.

I do not find the standard bike perfect, but it is the best base I have found so far.

Make the compairasion by riding one, or living with one for a while.

Or better still upgrade it to realise its full potential,photo included, or see my upgrades for a Mezzo thread.

My one critism of the mezzo bike range is a lack of ambition. They need to provide a version that is not under geared as a standard bike. Like a cespro ,8 speed internal or dual drive version.

Strange about the fold rating a Mezzo as it is faster than a bridie or a Brompton, and it also stands more securely than my preivious brompton when folded. The birdie fold is also very good ,but a tad bigger when folded. The Birdie folding speed and ease is widely underrated IMO.

must reply to this too as I recently bought a mezzo over a brompton and dahon.

I have tested two bromptons (the cheaper M and the top of the range S with titanium fancy bits), a dahon 20" wheeler and the mezzo d9.

The mezzo's ride is fantastic. Its very good in fact, that I can forgive the standard brakes (which if you fit koolstops work much better).

I had read a lot of reviews about the mezzo before testing them and was rather put off. However its not until you actually test these bikes that you can make your mind up. Since then and reading back these reviews I can't help thinking reviewers have too much bias towards the heritage and history of the brompton (Uk reviews that is).

One review was commented by ATB Sales (the mezzo owners) in saying that the reviewers used the word "Brompton" more than "mezzo" in a Mezzo d9 review!!

I can forgive the standard brakes (which if you fit koolstops work much better).

One review was commented by ATB Sales (the mezzo owners) in saying that the reviewers used the word "Brompton" more than "mezzo" in a Mezzo d9 review!!

The over priced? D10 should brake fine as it has a rear V brake. I would not buy a D10 as I would be paying extra for 10 gears that I would then upgrade to a dual drive anyway. But I would like the option of V brake rear,56 front cog, and the slightly lighter frame.

On my D9 ( upgraded to a D27)
I find the red sammon koolstops on the front and kswiss on the rear give the best braking, but also fit teflon innercables,(about £3 each) to further improve the braking. This is a good upgrade to reduce the common friction problem with long cable runs on folders. With these my mezzo brakes are fine. More manufactors should put teflon cables on as standard. Espically on folders with compairatively weak brakes.

+1 to your comment on some of the UK reviews. Yes try the bike first. I made that mistake,and realised as soon as I test rode the mezzo. I then sold my Brompton and Merc's and bought 2 Mezzo's. The Brompton is a great bike, but other bikes are better in certian charatoristics and vesa versa. A test ride, and commute if possible, is the best way of checking a bikes suitability. I am not trying to stir up Brompton V Mezzo debate, but suggest that people dont go much by reviews to value the 2 bikes( or others) merits. Try them to avoid dissappointment.

The review you mentioned is still reasonable favourable though. If I remember correctely, most Brompton owners prefered the Mezzo ride, or was that somewhere else?

Mezzos are no longer imported into the US. I had a lefttover Mezzo 10 and brompton at the start of last year. I sold the Mezzo in favor of keeping the brompton. The mezzo had a nice ride, but I wanted a more sporty cockpit. So I kept the SL6 for most of this year until Dec. when I sold it. The Mezzo had a great ride and shifted fine and the Fold was good. But I could stretch the brompton out a bit more with a seatpost extension. If I could have resolved the cockpit issue, I would have kept it.

Mezzo UK dealerships seem to be dwindling also.
My local shop ,cycle heaven, have dropped selling the Mezzo, and now sell only Birdies and,(mostly) Bromptoms. No dahons untill they sort themselfs out.

Shame lack of choice in compacts as Bromptons drive me nuuts to ride.
What's the general situation in UK ? likef marlin,atb split.
I have always wanted Mezzo ,(or othwr) to add more models to meet the thiings that Brompton are not offering,like more gears bullbars,V brakes etc.

Dude, you are talking about personalized modifications You prefer.. if you cannot do them yourself. UK
has a few people who have and will do them for you .. for a price... braze-on and re powder coat.

look around here too http://www.foldsoc.co.uk/[

I think you missed my point.
Yes you can get commisioned,for exampLe a great go faster steven perry brompton with drops etc , for less than £3K

But - have the choice of a carbon supra (20 " mezzo with road grouppset) for that as a standard bike, or a tern/dahon(£1k).

YOu get many things if one pays a prenium.

I welcome competion , not the expensive, method of only achiving diversiy by customising a narrow selection of compact folders.

Many of the things I mention have been made available by other manufaters of 16" or 20"
V brakes =dahon,mezzo/ori and more
Dual drive= birdie,dahon..........................
Bullbars/drops/tt= friday, moulton,dahon,ori

Just not all together on a really compact folder !
When the day comes I do not mind what badge it has on it.
Ill then I guess I need to tinker, or get richer.